Weerasekara Kankanam Arachchige Roshan Indika vs D. D. K. Gamage et al. – CA CASE NO. WRT-0421/20-2023

In the case between Weerasekara Kankanam Arachchige Roshan Indika and D. D. K. Gamage, T. G. Sarath Kumara, and other state officials, the court addressed the validity of a land permit issued to the petitioner in 1994 when the petitioner was under the statutory age of 18, as well as the propriety of administrative compliance with a subsequent directive to regularize the petitioner’s possession. The court held that while the initial permit was invalid due to the petitioner being underage, the statutory duty to issue a valid permit pursuant to the Commissioner General of Lands’ directive remained enforceable. The decision reaffirmed that non-compliance with such a directive constitutes a breach of statutory duty and a Writ of Mandamus is the appropriate remedy to compel issuance of a new per